Colerain High School addresses gang activity rumors

Extra police were at Colerain High School Friday to alleviate fears and make sure students and parents felt comfortable after social media stirred up rumors of a potential threat on campus Thursday, Colerain Township police said.

Extra officers also were at the school Thursday, but for another matter: to escort several students off campus after school officials took disciplinary action against them, said Chief Mark Denney.

None of the discipline involved violent offenses or crimes that required police involvement beyond escorting the students off campus, the chief said. One of the infractions, he added, involved a dress code violation regarding a potential gang reference on student's sweatshirt.

A letter Colerain High School sent to parents Thursday.(Photo: Provided)

However, as the students were dismissed, police received third- and fourth-party information that someone had made a threat on social media that a shooting was going to occur on campus.

Police investigated and concluded there was no specific, credible threat.

"We had absolutely no indication of any threat to the school anywhere. We looked at every social media outlet and every single cell phone we came across and no one could find a threat," the chief said.

"It was allowed to ferment and then kids sent messages to mom and dad saying 'I've heard this and can you come and get me?' And rightfully so, parents were concerned."

Hundreds of parents flocked to the school to pick up their children.

"If we had seen a threat, we would have taken action on it, absolutely," he said. "My own son goes to school there. If I thought there was anything to this, he would be home, but he is sitting in class right now as we speak."

School officials put out a letter to parents Thursday that vaguely explained the need for extra police presence and stressed that safety and security are "of the utmost importance to us."

The letter also vaguely referred to "gang activity" and a Green Township shooting that Denney explained is the April 12 shooting on Cheviot Road in which a 20-year-old former Colerain High student was wounded.

The suspect, Derrick Irby-Patterson III, 18, is a current Colerain High student - but police say he hasn't been attending classes for a long time, and may not have even been to school once this year.

"There have been many rumors regarding 'gang activity' both inside and outside of Colerain High School," the letter reads. "The recent shooting in Green Township has added to these rumors. In the face of this, we have maintained our instructional focus, regular schedule, and high expectations of our students and staff. During this time, we have been working cooperatively with the Colerain and Green Township Police."

Denney explained that friends of the victim and the suspect both currently attend the high school.

"Some of the victim's friends and the suspect's friends have been yelling back and forth and I think that's ramping it up, too," the chief said. "And I think that might be causing some of the heartache and tension."

The letter continues:

Today, the students identified in this investigation have been called to the office and disciplined for specific violations of the code of conduct. As required by law, we are not able to discuss these violations. Due to the number of students, an increased police presence was requested to help manage the situation.

Please know that the safety and security of our students and staff are of the utmost importance to us, and we will continue to maintain a safe and secure environment. We have an outstanding working relationship with both the Colerain and Green Township police departments and have been working with the both Chief Denney and Chief West to bring this investigation to a successful conclusion. We are grateful to everyone who shared information with us and encourage you to have your children talk with an adult when they believe there are safety issues. We will continue to monitor this situation and respond effectively as issues arise."